An Outgrowing

Mid 60s--American Japanese girl next door
invited me to play her Beatles records.
Star struck, I looked at her framed reproduction
of John Lennon on her bedroom wall, I imitated
him and the others, played air guitar,
harmonicas and drums before it became the rave.
I pretended to be them with a Beatle haircut,
sang their vocal parts over invisible microphones.

Mid 90s, I cleaned and dusted my collection.
I couldn't believe they were my idols.
I put away those records like old love letters.
John, Paul, George and Ringo--crushes vanished,
a fading mirage and an eye blink.
Silly, imitating the Beatles.